Norway is somewhere I'd wanted to explore solo for quite some time. With its colourful waterfronts, spectacular fjords, mountain scenery and excellent public transport, it seemed like the perfect destination for a weekend away on my own.
However, having now visited both Bergen and Oslo independently, I can safely say that Norway wasn't quite what I'd expected.
I try to take at least two solo trips every year, and over the last few years I've explored quite a bit of Europe independently.
My travels have taken me through Switzerland, including Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Interlaken, Montreux and Basel, as well as Colmar and Strasbourg in France. I've also travelled solo around Sicily, visiting Cefalù, Messina and Taormina, and explored southern Italy, including Scilla and other parts of Calabria.
I'm therefore fairly comfortable arriving somewhere unfamiliar, navigating public transport and exploring new destinations without having someone travelling alongside me.
However, I still research every destination carefully, particularly when it comes to accommodation, airport transfers and getting around without a car.
For this particular trip, I decided to combine Bergen and Oslo, travelling between the two cities on the famous Bergen Railway. It was an opportunity to explore two Norwegian cities while experiencing one of Europe's most scenic train journeys, all within a long weekend.
So, is Norway safe for solo female travellers? Based on my own experience, I'd say absolutely, although there were a few surprises along the way. From having my McDonald's stolen within an hour of arriving in Bergen to discovering just how lively Norwegian nightlife can be, my trip certainly wasn't uneventful. Despite that, I felt extremely comfortable exploring both cities independently and would happily return for another solo adventure.
Here's what I experienced, what surprised me and what I'd recommend to anyone considering travelling alone in Norway.
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Before getting into my experiences, I think it's worth pointing out that Norway is an enormous country, and although I've visited several times, I've only visited a small fraction of the country.
I've travelled to both Bergen and Oslo independently, with Oslo being somewhere I've now visited twice on my own. I've also explored Stavanger and Tønsberg, although those trips weren't solo adventures.
However, my observations in this guide are based primarily on my personal experiences in Bergen and Oslo rather than Norway as a whole.
Norway's cities, smaller towns and remote northern destinations can offer very different experiences, so I wouldn't want to suggest that visiting two cities gives me a complete picture of what it's like to travel solo throughout the country.
What I can share is how safe I personally felt, what surprised me and whether I'd recommend the destinations I've visited to other solo travellers.
Overall, Norway felt like one of the safest destinations I've explored independently. I was comfortable walking around both Bergen and Oslo, using public transport, visiting attractions and travelling between the two cities without needing to hire a car.
In fact, both cities felt considerably safer to me than many of the UK cities I've visited, although that's based entirely on my personal experience rather than crime statistics.
One thing I would say is that Norway isn't necessarily the peaceful, picture-perfect destination you might imagine from photographs. Bergen, in particular, was much livelier than I'd anticipated, and my first evening there was certainly memorable.
However, I think there's an important difference between encountering something unexpected and genuinely feeling unsafe. While there were a couple of situations that surprised me, I never felt particularly vulnerable or concerned about being there on my own.
As with any destination, I'd still recommend taking sensible precautions, researching accommodation before booking and being aware of your surroundings, particularly late at night.
Before visiting Bergen, I'd spent quite a bit of time looking at photographs of its colourful wooden buildings, beautiful harbour and surrounding mountains.
For some reason, I'd convinced myself I was heading to a relatively quiet Norwegian town rather than Norway's second-largest city.
That illusion disappeared fairly quickly! I arrived on a Friday evening and, as it was getting late, decided to grab a McDonald's before heading straight to my apartment. I wasn't particularly interested in going out that evening and had planned to get settled before spending the following day exploring Bergen.
Unfortunately, two teenagers had other ideas and stole my food. I kid you not, I'd been in Norway for less than an hour and somebody had already made off with my McDonald's!
Thankfully, the lady working there kindly remade my order, so at least I wasn't left hungry.
It was more annoying than anything, and I didn't feel particularly threatened, but it certainly wasn't the introduction to Bergen I'd been expecting.
I think this is worth mentioning because it's easy to build up an unrealistic impression of a destination from the photographs we see online. Bergen has some absolutely beautiful areas, but it's also a busy city where people live, work and go out at weekends.
Having said that, I still felt very comfortable exploring Bergen independently, and that slightly unfortunate first experience didn't affect the rest of my trip.
After finally collecting my replacement food, I headed back to my apartment for what I'd imagined would be a relatively peaceful evening.
However, it quickly became apparent that Bergen has a rather lively nightlife scene, particularly on a Friday.
There was plenty of noise outside my apartment, groups of people enjoying themselves and even a few arrests. Having expected somewhere considerably quieter, I was quite surprised by just how busy the city became.
I later got chatting to a local who explained that, in their experience, Norwegians tend to concentrate their drinking into one or two nights a week, with Friday and Saturday being particularly popular. Whether that's representative of the entire country, I couldn't say, but it certainly matched what I witnessed during my stay.
Fortunately, I was perfectly happy tucked up in my apartment, and the noise didn't particularly bother me. With three teenagers at home, I'm fairly accustomed to a bit of chaos, so I wasn't going to let a lively Friday night ruin my trip.
However, would I have wanted to head out drinking alone in the middle of it? Probably not, although I'd feel exactly the same about heading into a busy nightlife area in Manchester or Liverpool.
It wasn't that I considered Bergen particularly dangerous, but I generally prefer exploring during the day and enjoying a quieter evening when I'm travelling independently.
If you're planning a solo weekend in Bergen, particularly over a Friday or Saturday, I'd recommend checking the location of your accommodation and reading recent reviews. Staying centrally is convenient, but it's worth considering whether you're close to some of the busier nightlife streets if you're hoping for a peaceful evening.
The following morning, I headed out at around 8.45am, expecting the city to be bustling with people enjoying their Saturday morning.
However, after witnessing the previous evening's excitement, I was quite surprised to discover that the streets were practically deserted.
For a city, Bergen was incredibly quiet, and during my early morning wander I encountered very few people apart from some of the local homeless population.
While I was in a shop, one person struck up a conversation with me, but there was nothing intimidating about the encounter. We had a perfectly normal conversation, and I continued exploring without giving it another thought.
I think it's important to distinguish between seeing people experiencing homelessness and actually feeling unsafe, because the two aren't necessarily connected.
I've encountered similar situations in other European cities, and my experience in Bergen was no different.
In fact, it reminded me of a previous solo trip to Switzerland, when I'd visited Basel after spending time exploring places such as Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Interlaken.
Having experienced some of Switzerland's beautiful mountain towns, Basel came as a bit of a surprise.
One Sunday evening, a group of people experiencing homelessness set up at the end of my street with an enormous speaker and proceeded to have a party for hours.
I'm forever advising people to consider booking accommodation away from major railway stations, where the surrounding streets can sometimes be noisier, particularly in larger cities. Unfortunately, I'm not particularly good at following my own advice, as convenient transport connections usually win when I'm travelling alone!
However, neither experience made me feel unsafe, and I'd happily return to both destinations.
As Bergen gradually became busier throughout Saturday, I spent the day exploring the city and discovered that it was actually a lovely place to visit independently. Although it's a city rather than the quiet town I'd imagined, it still felt manageable, and I found it easy to get around without needing a car.
One of the things I particularly appreciated about Bergen was how comfortable I felt walking around independently, even early in the morning.
On Sunday, I needed to catch my train to Oslo, which meant leaving my accommodation and walking across the city to Bergen railway station at approximately 7.30am.
My apartment wasn't beside the station, so I had a reasonable walk through the city before boarding my train. Despite everything I'd witnessed on Friday evening, I had absolutely no concerns about making the journey alone and found the walk perfectly fine.
This is something I always consider when planning solo trips because cheap flights and early train departures can sometimes mean travelling through unfamiliar areas at less convenient times.
Obviously, everyone's experience will be different, and I'd always recommend checking your route beforehand, particularly if you're visiting during winter when mornings can be dark.
However, based on my own experience, I wouldn't hesitate to make the same journey again.
One of the main reasons I'd planned this particular trip was to experience the Bergen Railway, which connects Bergen and Oslo through some of Norway's most spectacular scenery. As I don't drive, I'm always looking for destinations that can be explored using public transport, and Norway certainly appealed to me for that reason.
The journey takes approximately seven hours, travelling through mountain landscapes, beautiful valleys and some incredibly remote areas of Norway. Rather than flying between the two cities, I wanted to make the train journey part of the experience, and I'm so glad I did.
I ended up sitting next to a lovely Norwegian lady from Oslo who'd been visiting family in Bergen, and we got chatting during the journey. It's one of the things I enjoy about travelling independently, as you often end up having conversations with people you might never have met if you'd been travelling with someone else.
Something else that stood out was how respectful everyone seemed to be on board. The atmosphere was relaxed, passengers were considerate of one another, and I felt completely comfortable spending several hours travelling alone.
Having experienced some rather different journeys on UK trains, it was certainly a refreshing change, although I'm sure Norwegian services have their moments too!
I also appreciated how straightforward the entire journey was. There was no need to arrange transfers between the cities, navigate unfamiliar roads or worry about hiring a car. I simply arrived at Bergen railway station, boarded my train and enjoyed the scenery until I reached Oslo.
For anyone considering travelling solo in Norway, I'd definitely recommend looking at the Bergen Railway. It's a lovely way to combine two cities, particularly if you're planning a trip without a car, and the journey itself is one of the highlights.
I've written a separate guide to my three-day Bergen to Oslo itinerary, including the transport, accommodation and activities I booked, along with what I actually spent.
Oslo wasn't actually new to me, as I'd already visited the city twice before this particular trip. My first visit was with my family, while my second was during a cruise, when I spent an afternoon exploring independently. However, there's quite a difference between wandering around a city for a few hours knowing you've got a cruise ship to return to and actually staying overnight on your own.
After an eventful introduction to Bergen, I was interested to see how I'd find Oslo on my third visit. As Norway's capital and a considerably larger city, I'd expected it to feel busier than Bergen, particularly around the central railway station where I'd booked my accommodation.
Surprisingly, I actually found Oslo much quieter, although I suspect the timing of my visit had quite a lot to do with that.
I'd spent Friday and Saturday in Bergen before travelling to Oslo on Sunday, where I stayed until Monday.
By the time I arrived, the weekend nightlife had largely finished, so I experienced a completely different atmosphere from the one I'd encountered during my first evening in Norway.
Although this was another solo trip, I did meet up with a family member for a few hours while I was there. However, I spent the rest of my visit independently, including staying overnight in accommodation right beside Oslo Central Station.
Interestingly, this is exactly the sort of location I'm forever telling people to research carefully before booking, as areas surrounding major railway stations can sometimes be particularly busy. However,
I had absolutely no problems staying there and felt perfectly comfortable exploring the surrounding area alone.
Having now visited Oslo three times, including two occasions when I've spent time exploring independently, I've had the opportunity to experience the city in slightly different circumstances. However, I wouldn't necessarily conclude that Oslo is quieter or safer than Bergen based on my experiences, particularly as I visited the two cities on different days of the week.
I'd happily return to Oslo for another solo trip and would consider staying in the same area again, although I'd still check recent accommodation reviews and research the surrounding streets before booking.
Since my original solo trip, I've actually returned to Norway for a weekend in Tønsberg, although this time I was travelling with my husband rather than alone.
That trip gave me another opportunity to experience Norwegian nightlife, and it reinforced what I'd noticed during my first evening in Bergen. From my experiences, Friday and Saturday evenings can be considerably livelier than the rest of the week.
It also made me appreciate just how much the day of the week can influence your impression of a destination.
Had I arrived in Bergen on a Sunday rather than a Friday, I might have come away with a completely different impression of the city.
Equally, had I visited Oslo on a Friday evening, perhaps I'd have experienced a much livelier atmosphere there too.
It's something I'd certainly bear in mind when planning future solo trips, particularly if I was looking for somewhere quiet to stay over a weekend.
However, I wouldn't let the nightlife put me off visiting either city independently. I simply prefer to choose accommodation that suits the type of trip I'm planning rather than assuming somewhere will be peaceful because it looks that way in photographs.
Definitely, and this was one of my favourite things about travelling around Norway.
I'm always interested in how straightforward a destination is to explore using public transport, particularly when I'm travelling alone and organising everything myself.
Both Bergen and Oslo have established public transport networks, and I found it relatively easy to plan a trip combining the two cities without needing to hire a car.
Bergen is particularly manageable because many of the main attractions are within walking distance of one another. There's also a light rail connection between Bergen Airport and the city centre, which makes getting into the city relatively straightforward without paying for an expensive taxi.
In Oslo, there's a combination of trains, trams, buses and the metro, so it's possible to explore well beyond the immediate city centre without needing your own transport.
However, the highlight for me was undoubtedly travelling between Bergen and Oslo by train.
Being able to enjoy such spectacular scenery without worrying about driving meant I could concentrate entirely on the experience.
I'd happily recommend combining the two cities for anyone planning a solo trip without a car, particularly if you enjoy scenic railway journeys and exploring cities independently.
If you're planning to visit some of Norway's more remote destinations, I'd recommend researching transport connections more carefully.
While the major cities are well connected, travelling to smaller towns or rural areas may require additional planning, particularly during winter.
For a short solo break, though, I found Bergen and Oslo an excellent combination.
Accommodation is something I always spend quite a bit of time researching, regardless of whether I'm travelling alone or with my family. I love finding somewhere with a little character, but when I'm travelling independently, location becomes particularly important.
I generally prefer staying within walking distance of the main attractions or close to public transport, especially if I've got an early train or flight.
However, I also like having somewhere comfortable to return to after spending the day exploring, as I'm not particularly interested in going out drinking when I'm travelling alone.
My experience in Bergen highlighted why it's worth paying attention to the surrounding area rather than simply choosing accommodation based on photographs and guest ratings.
Although I was happy with my apartment, the Friday night atmosphere outside was considerably livelier than I'd expected. Fortunately, noise doesn't particularly bother me, but I appreciate that it could have been a completely different experience for someone who was hoping for a peaceful night's sleep.
In Oslo, I stayed right beside the central railway station and had no problems whatsoever, although I'd still recommend researching individual properties rather than assuming every hotel in the area will offer the same experience.
When I'm booking accommodation for a solo trip, I generally look at recent guest reviews, the location in relation to public transport and whether there are restaurants or supermarkets nearby. I also like to check the walking route between the accommodation and the station, particularly if I'm arriving late or leaving early.
I wouldn't necessarily pay significantly more to stay in the most expensive part of a city, but I do think it's worth choosing somewhere that feels convenient and comfortable rather than automatically booking the cheapest available option.
After all, one of the advantages of travelling independently is being able to organise everything around your own preferences.
If you're considering your first solo trip abroad, I think Norway is definitely worth looking at, particularly if you're interested in exploring cities and enjoying beautiful scenery without hiring a car.
One of the things I enjoyed most about my trip was how easily I could combine different experiences. I spent time exploring Bergen, travelled through some spectacular Norwegian landscapes by train and finished my weekend in Oslo, all without needing to organise complicated transport arrangements.
Both cities were manageable to explore independently, and I felt comfortable using public transport and walking around on my own. I also found people approachable, and my conversation with the lady on the train was a lovely reminder that travelling alone doesn't necessarily mean spending the entire trip without company.
However, I think it's important to choose an itinerary that suits your confidence and experience. If you've never travelled alone before, you might prefer spending a few nights in one city rather than attempting to visit several destinations in a short space of time.
I'd also recommend researching your accommodation and transport connections before travelling, particularly if you're arriving late in the evening. Having those arrangements sorted in advance makes a considerable difference when you're navigating somewhere unfamiliar on your own.
Personally, I'd happily recommend either Bergen or Oslo as a destination to consider for a first solo European city break. If you've got a little more time, combining the two by train is a fantastic option.
I always recommend checking recent accommodation reviews and looking carefully at the surrounding area before making a reservation. It's particularly useful to read reviews from other solo travellers, as they sometimes mention things that couples or families might not consider important.
If you're visiting Bergen over a weekend, I'd pay attention to comments about noise and nearby nightlife. My own experience certainly demonstrated that the city can be considerably livelier than its photographs might suggest.
I'd also check the walking route between your accommodation and public transport, particularly if you're planning an early departure or arriving late in the evening.
As I don't drive, researching public transport is always one of the first things I do when planning a trip. I like knowing how I'm getting from the airport to my accommodation, which tickets I need and how frequently services operate.
This was particularly useful in Norway because I was combining two cities and travelling between them by train.
I'd recommend saving your transport information and accommodation details somewhere you can access them without relying entirely on mobile internet. I generally find that having everything organised beforehand makes arriving somewhere unfamiliar considerably less stressful.
One thing I hadn't particularly considered before visiting Norway was just how much the atmosphere could change depending on the day of the week.
My Friday evening in Bergen was completely different from my Sunday and Monday experience in Oslo, and my subsequent weekend in Tønsberg reinforced my impression that Norwegian nightlife can be particularly lively on Fridays and Saturdays.
If you're hoping for a quieter solo break, it's worth considering this when choosing your travel dates and accommodation.
However, I certainly wouldn't avoid visiting Norway over a weekend. I'd simply research where I was staying and decide whether I wanted to be close to the nightlife or somewhere a little quieter.
Having my dinner stolen within an hour of arriving in Bergen probably makes me sound like the last person who should be offering advice on this subject!
However, it's a useful reminder that petty theft can happen anywhere, regardless of a destination's reputation.
I generally keep my passport, phone and bank cards secure when I'm exploring, and I avoid leaving my belongings unattended in restaurants, cafés or on public transport.
I'd also recommend travelling with a backup payment method and making sure you've got suitable travel insurance.
Although my trip focused on Bergen, Oslo and the railway journey between them, Norway is particularly appealing if you enjoy hiking, mountains and outdoor activities.
If you're planning to explore more remote areas independently, I'd recommend taking additional precautions. Weather conditions can change quickly, particularly in mountainous areas, so it's important to research your route, check the forecast and make sure you've got appropriate clothing and equipment.
I'd also let somebody know where I was planning to go if I were heading out on a longer hike alone.
Exploring a city independently is quite different from heading into remote mountain landscapes, so I'd plan accordingly.
Without hesitation, although I might keep a closer eye on my McDonald's next time!
Despite my rather unexpected introduction to Bergen, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Norway independently. Both Bergen and Oslo felt extremely safe to me, and I particularly appreciated how straightforward it was to travel between the two cities without hiring a car.
I also think this trip was a useful reminder that our expectations of a destination don't always match reality. Having spent so much time looking at photographs of Bergen's colourful waterfront and surrounding mountains, I'd imagined somewhere considerably quieter than the city I actually encountered.
However, once I'd adjusted my expectations, I really enjoyed exploring Bergen and appreciated that it offered the convenience of a city while still feeling relatively manageable.
My experience in Oslo was equally positive, although visiting on Sunday and Monday probably contributed to the quieter atmosphere I encountered. Having since returned to Norway for a weekend in Tønsberg, I've also had another opportunity to experience the country's livelier side.
Would I choose to head out drinking alone on a busy Friday night in Bergen? Probably not, but that wouldn't stop me from returning or recommending Norway to someone considering their own solo adventure.
For me, the combination of beautiful scenery, accessible public transport and comfortable independent travel made Norway an excellent destination. I'd happily return to explore more of the country, particularly some of the smaller towns and destinations beyond Bergen and Oslo.
And if you're considering your own solo trip, I'd definitely recommend putting Norway on your list. Just remember that even the most beautiful destinations are real places rather than the peaceful postcards we sometimes imagine.
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